Clutch.



F. A HEAD & 5. 1. TOWLE.

CLUTCH.

APPLlCATiON HLED OCT. 16. 1912;

1,288, 18%,- Patented D6017, 1918. v

2 SHEETSSHEET l- 1215 J. Ewl,

F. A. READ & E. J. TOWLE. CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001.15.1917.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRED A. READ AND ELISHA J. TOWLE, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLUTCH.

Application filed October 16, 1917.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED A. READ and lEnrsim J. Towns, citizens of theUnited States of America, and residents of Lynn, in the county of Essexand the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to driving mechanisms for machines andparticularly to devices of this character in which a motor is connecteddirectly to the main driving shaft of the machine.

The object the present invention is to provide means between the motorand the machine of a quickly acting connector whereby the machine may bedriven at full speed from the motor as soon as the connection is made.

The invention consists of an electro-magnet secured to the driving shaftof the machine and adapted when energized to coact with a slidablemember keyed to the motor shaft thereby providing means whereby powermay be transmitted from the motor to the machine.

The machine further consists in providing means whereby the machine maybe quickly disconnected from the motor Without affecting the speed ofthe latter.

The invention further consists of certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference tothe description of the drawingsand to the claims to be hereinaftergiven. I

For the purpose of illustrating the invention one preferred form thereofis illustrated in the drawings this form having been i found to givesatisfactory and reliable results although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which the in; vention consists can bevariously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limitedto the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities asherein shown and described, except as required by the scope of theappended claims.

"Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents an elevation partly in section of a device embodyingthe principles of the present Qinvention.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical section on line 2 on Fig. 1.

3 represents a VfilLlCfli. section on line 3. 3 on Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Serial No. 196,950.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section on line 1, a on Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 represents an elevation of the switch for controlling theoperation of the electromagnetic clutch mechanism between the motor andthe machine.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawmgs.

In the drawings, is a portion of the frame of a machine provided with ahub 11 and having revolubly mounted in said hub a shaft 12, from whichpower is supplied to drive the operating parts of the machine. As thevarious operating parts of the machine form no part of the presentinvention they are not illustrated.

To the frame 10 is secured a bracket 13, in the outer end of which ismounted an electric motor 1 1. As this motor 1 1 may be of any wellknown construction it is not considered necessary to illustrate itsconstruction. The motor 14 is provided with the driving shaft 15 inalinement with the shaft 12 to be driven.

Mounted upon the driving shaft 15 is a sleeve 16 secured to said shaft15 by a set screw 17 so as to cause said sleeve 16 to revolve with theshaft 15. Mounted upon the sleeve 16 and secured thereto by means of theset screw 17 is a collar 18, having an annular flange 19. in which aremounted a plurality of parallel pins 20, extending through openings in aclutch member 21, slidably mounted upon the sleeve 16.

The pins 20 extend through the openings in the slidable clutch member21, permitting this member 21 to be reciprocated on the sleeve 16, whileinsuring its rotation with said sleeve.

The clutch member 21 is provided with an outwardly extending annularflange, the inner wall of which is inclined and adapted to fit thetapered periphery of an annular ring 22, secured to the hub 23 of aspool 24 of insulating material.

This spool is mounted upon a sleeve 25 secured to the driven shaft 12.The outer end of the sleeve 25 is provided with an annular flange 27,the inner wall of which is adapted to fit over the periphery of the hub28 when the clutch member 21 is moved longitudinally of the sleeve 16.

\ l/Vithin the bore of the sleeve25 is positioned one end of anintermediate member 29 the opposite end of which is positioned bridge 46adapted complete circuit through with a layer 31 of within the bore ofthe sleeve 16, the ends of said intermediate member 29 hearingrespectively against the ends of the driven shaft 12 and the drivingshaft 15.

This intermediate member 29 insures the alinement of the shafts 12 and15 at all times.

Upon the spool 2 1 is mounted a coil 30 of wire, the windings of whichare insulated from each other in any well known manner, and the outerlayer of said coil being wound paper or some similar material.

Upon the periphery of the spool 24: and coil 30 is mounted a hand wheel32 by which the shaft 1'2 may be rotated by hand when desired. The outerend 33 of the coil of wire is connected to the ring 3% and the end ofsaid coil is connected to the ring 36. These rings and 36 are secured tothe spool '24: by means of the screws 3'4".

The bracket 13 is provided with an upwardly extendingear 38'to which issecured an insulating disk 39, having secured to its outer face thecontact plates d0, a1, and

Secured to the contact plate 40 is a brush #13, the free end of which.is adapted to en gage the ring 36.

The contact plate 42 has secured thereto a brush 4.1, the free end ofwhich engages the ring 3%. Pivotally mounted upon the disk 39 is anoperating lever e13, carrying to connect the contact plates 41 and i2when said operating lever is in the position shown in Fig. 5. When thelever to moved into the position shown in Fig. 4. the bridge 416 will beentirely in contact with the plate l1 and the circuit will be broken.

T he rear end of the operating lever is rovided with a projection 47adapted to abut the stop pin 48 when the device is in operation and toabut a stop pin fol) when the circuit is broken.

The plate &0 is connected by a wire 50 with a binding post 51 on themotor 1% and the plate 11 is similarly connected by a wire 52 with abinding post 53 on said motor 14:.

These wires 50 and 52 continue beyond the binding posts 51 and 53 to asuitable source of electric energy, as the battery 5%, shown in diagramin Fig. at of the drawings.

Between the source of electrical energy 5% and the motor 1% is a switch55 by which the motor 1% may be thrown into or out of action. When themotor is in operation the operator may throw the operating lever d5 intoposition shown in Fig. and make a the coil 30, thus magnetizing thesleeve or core 25, and thereby drawing the slidable clutch member 21into engagement with the tapered periphery of the ring 22.

As long as the electric current passes through the coil 30 the clutchmembers 21 and 22 will be retained in firm contact with each other andthe machine shaft 12 will be driven from the motor 1& by means ofthedriving shaft 15.

The movement of the operating lever 15 to complete the circuit throughthe electric magnet will cause the immediate movement of the slidableclutch member '21 into contact with the ring 22, so that the shaft 12will be immediately rotated at the same speed as that of the motorshaft- 15.

By moving the shaft 45 into the position shown in Fig. i the circuit tothe electric magnet 30 will be broken and the clutch members 21 and willbecome separated thereby permitting the shaft 15 and the electric motor1 1: to revolve at full speed without transmitting movement to thedriven shaft 19.. This shaft 12 may be brought to a full stop by theoperator using the hand wheel lVith the lever 45 in the position shownin Fig. 4, the operator may rotate the shaft by means of the hand wheelmakes a very quick acting clutch, particularly desirable for machines tobe driven 'ithout variation in speed. By the use of this magnetic clutcha motor may be connected in alinement with the machine shaft, and drivethe main shaft of the machine On sewing machines and the like the current may be secured from the ordinary electric light sockets, Byconnecting the motor directly to the machine as shown and describedherein the shafts, counter shafts, pulleys, and belts, usually used tooperate machinery of this class would be entirely dispensed with.

We believe that the many advantages and the operation of the inventionwill be fully understood without any further description.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the class described. two alined shafts; means fordriving one shaft; two clutch members, one on each shaft; a memberinterposed between said shafts and alined therewith, having positionedin sockets axially disposed relatively to said clutch members; andmagnetic means on the driven shaft for moving one of said clutch membersinto coacting relation with the other.

2. In a device of the class described, two alined shafts; means fordriving one shaft; two clutch members, one on each shaft; :1 revolublemember interposed between said shafts and alined therewith; and magneticmeans on the driven shaft for moving one of said members into coactingrelation with the other.

3. in a device of the class described, a driving shaft; a driven shaft;a sleeve se- This the ends thereof I messes cured .to said driven-shaft;an electromagnet secured to-said sleeve; a clutch member secured to saidmagnet; means for controlling the operation of said electro-magnet; ahand Wheel surrounding the electro-magnet whereby the rotation of thedriven shaft may be manually stopped when the clutch members havebeendisengaged; and a slidable clutch member onsaid driving shaftadapted to be moved by said magn'et into coasting rela tion with saidmagnet clutch.

' said sleeve; a clutch member secured to said magnet; means forcontrollmg the operation 4:. In a device of the class described, adriving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve secured to said driven shaft andhaving an annular flange; an electromagnet secured to of said electromagnet; and a slidable clutch member on said driving shaft adapted to bemoved by said magnet into coacting relation with said magnet clutch, andhaving a hub adapted to fit Within said annular flange.

5. In a device-of the class described-,a-

driving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve secured to said driven shaft; amember of insulating material revoluble with said sleeve and providedwith two peripheral flanges; a wire coil on said memberbetween saidflanges; a source of electric energy; a switch betweensaid source andsaid coil; a tapered ring secured to the hub of said flanged meinher;and a slidable member -on the driving shaft having an annular flangeadaptedto be drawn into contact with the periphery of p 35 said ringwhenever said coil is energized. 6. In a device of the class described,a

driving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve secared to said dnven-shaft; anelectromagnet inclosed in a member of insulating material secured tosaid sleeve; an annular clutch member secured to said magnetv inclosingmember and having a conical periphery; means for controlling the opera-I tion of said electro-magnet; and a slidable clutch member on saiddriving shaft adapted to be moved by said magnet into coasting relationwith said magnet clutch, and having Y a flange provided with an innerwall'adapted to coact with the periphery of said annular member. I

7. In a device of the class described, a

driving shaft; a driven shaft; a flanged member of insulating materialrevoluble' with said driven shaft; a Wire coil on said flanged member; asource of electric energy;

a switch between said source-and saidcoil;

her; and a slidable member on the driving shaft having an annular flangeadapted to be'drawn into contact with the periphery of said ringwhenever said coil is energized.

- 8. In a device .of the class described, a

driving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve secured to said driven shaft andhaving an annular flange; an electromagnet mclosed in a member ofinsulating material secured to I said sleeve; a clutch member secured tosaid magnet inclosing material, and having a con ical periphery; asleeve on the driving shaft; a slidable clutch member on the drivingshaft sleeve provided with a hub adapted to fit Within said annularflange'and having a projecting flange adapte'd'to coact with, theconical periphery of the other clutch member; and means for controllingthe operation of said electromagnet. Signed by us at 4 Post ()fiice801., Boston, Mass, this 13th day of October, 1917.

i I FRED A. READ.

v ELISHA J. TOWLE.

' Witnesses; i

v WALTER E. LoMBARn, NATHAN 0-. Measure.

